Textron Defense Systems' Scorpion Excels During Final Demonstration

Textron Defense Systems' Scorpion Excels During Final DemonstrationUNITED STATES - 20 JUNE 2011

Live-Fire Event Showcases System Performance and Reliability

Wilmington, Mass. - June 20, 2011 â€” Textron Defense Systems, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today that its XM1100 Scorpion networked ground munitions system successfully completed its final government design verification field test. Held at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, the demonstration evaluated the Scorpion system's ability to detect and track individual and multiple targets, as well as engage vehicle targets. Its munitions dispensing module (DM) and networked munitions controller also were evaluated for reliability and performance. The Scorpion system performed successfully throughout the multi-day event. In a demonstration of operational effectiveness, the Scorpion obstacle engaged and stopped a column of tracked vehicles in a "many-on-many" test scenario.

"Our Scorpion is the first and only networked munitions system developed in accordance with the U.S. Army's current safety standards for munitions controllers, which are the DO-178B and the Army Fuze Safety Review Board Guidelines' Appendix C. It is a scalable and highly effective force protection asset," says Textron Defense Systems Senior Vice President and General Manager Ellen Lord. "With each demonstration, we've been able to further enhance system performance and reliability of a munition that also reduces risk to non-combatants and friendly forces."

Textron Defense Systems' Scorpion consists of an advanced networked munitions controller and a munitions DM. The controller provides situational awareness and positive control of the Scorpion munitions, and is extensible to control both lethal and non-lethal effects. It fuses sensor data from a single DM or a field of networked DMs to detect, track, classify, report, engage and destroy targets. The DM is comprised of wide-area, top-attack anti-vehicle munitions that are immune to traditional breaching techniques. The Scorpion system provides an active obstacle capability that scales from combat outpost protection to large-scale battlefield shaping. In addition, Textron Defense Systems has designed all of its ground-based smart weapons to both improve warfighter capability and reduce risk to non-combatants. The Scorpion system requires man-in-the-loop operator decisions to hinder enemy approach while protecting friendly forces.

Textron Defense Systemsâ€™ Scorpion is ideally suited for a full spectrum of operations â€” including major contingency and stability operations â€” in open, rolling and urban environments. Scorpion enables the warfighter to rapidly secure a small unit perimeter or deny mounted avenues of approach. It attacks all types of vehicles from concealed, off-route locations without visual clues.

Scorpion enhances intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities and enables the warfighter to shape the battlefield with precise effects. Consistent with the U.S. Armyâ€™s modernization strategy, Scorpion provides soldiers the best fighting capabilities, while simultaneously developing essential enhancements for future operations.

Within minutes of emplacing Scorpion on the ground, the warfighter creates a wide-area engagement zone in which precise, discriminating, lethal or nonlethal effects can be applied. The all-weather capability engages
targets with manual and automatic control using a host of engagement tactics, which support Army and joint mission sets and rules of engagement while reducing collateral damage. When enabled, Scorpion launches a combat-proven top-attack munition toward intruders from a camouflaged, off-route positionâ€” achieving a
maximum surprise effect. The Scorpion systemâ€™s design and performance have been proven during several end-to-end, live-fire and environmental test events.